Advantages of keeping your college student on your policy

Sharing one auto insurance policy is usually more affordable than paying for two, as you'll split the cost of certain coverages.

You can share cars

You're all covered when driving each other's cars. No need to let your insurer know who's driving what or when.

Convenience

It's easier to manage a single policy than two.

Good student discount

Many insurers offer discounts to young drivers who are good students. At Progressive, in most states, you'll get a discount for having a B average or better.*

Distant college student discount

Some insurers also offer discounts to students who go away for college. At Progressive, in most states, you'll get a discount for college students on your policy (as long as they're 22 or younger and over 100 miles from home).*

How to keep (or add) a college student on your auto policy

Current Progressive customers

Call us at 866-749-7436 or
log in to your policy. We'll need some info about if they're going to have a car at college, their new address, etc. Then, we'll show how this changes your rate right away.

You drive your college student's car and damage it

Similar to above, it should be covered if comprehensive and collision were added.

Your college student drives your car and hits someone else

They should be covered. If they're at fault, any damages they cause to other cars, property (mailboxes, phone poles, etc.), and others' injuries are typically covered by bodily injury and property damage liability. This coverage comes standard and extends to all drivers on the policy, no matter what car they're driving. The same limits apply.

You drive your college student's car and hit someone else

Exact same as above.

How coverages work if you have separate policies: Your coverages work similarly, but everything will get a bit messier. Let's say that your college student is driving your car, and they hit someone else. There are two separate claims here: Damages they cause to others and damages to your car. Which company will handle and pay each claim will vary based on the circumstances and the terms of each policy. This is another reason why it's usually easier to combine policies if you're going to drive the same cars.

Remember, if your college student is driving your car on a regular basis, then they'll be required to be on your policy anyway.

FAQs for college student car insurance

What if they ONLY drive when they're home?

You can always make changes to your policy, as you see fit. For example: If adding your college student to your policy increases your price, then feel free to remove them when they go back to school and won't have access to a car. That way you're not wasting money by paying to insure your student who isn't driving. But remember, when your college student comes back from school and regularly drives again, you need to add them back to your policy so they'll be covered.

Is it ever more affordable for my college student to have a separate policy?

Sometimes. If your student has their vehicle in a more affordable ZIP code, you may save money by having separate policies. Also, if you've had tickets or accidents and your student is over 24 with a clean driving record, they could be better off with their own policy.

If your student is in a more affordable ZIP code, you may save with separate policies.

What happens if my college student's car is kept in a different state?

In many states, you can keep your college student on your policy if your residence is still their primary address. This is usually the case for students living in dorms and coming home for winter, spring, and summer breaks. Your insurer will likely need to know the ZIP code where the car is being kept the majority of the time.

In some states, your out-of-state college student is required to have their own policy.

If your college student is living off-campus and maintains a regular residence year-round separate from yours, they will need their own policy regardless of the state they're in and whether they live 2 miles from you or 2,000.

Questions? Just give us a call at 866-749-7436, and we'll make sure you're compliant.

One of the biggest discounts for college students could be Snapshot

Snapshot® is a mobile app or device that plugs into your car offered by Progressive in most states that personalizes your rate based on your driving.† The safer you drive, the more you save. A key component of “safe driving” is the number of miles you drive. So, if your college student's car sits idle in your driveway or at a parking lot at their school, you could score big points for the low-mileage category. That could mean a big discount.

Please note: The above content is meant as general information to help you understand the different aspects of insurance. This information is not an insurance policy, does not refer to any specific insurance policy, and does not modify any provisions, limitations, or exclusions expressly stated in any insurance policy. Descriptions of all coverages and other features on this page are necessarily brief; in order to fully understand the coverages and other features of a specific insurance policy, we encourage you to read the applicable policy and/or speak to an insurance representative. Coverages and other features vary between insurers, vary by state, and are not available in all states. Whether an accident or other loss is covered is subject to the terms and conditions of the actual insurance policy or policies involved in the claim. References to average or typical premiums, amounts of losses, deductibles, costs of coverages/repair, etc., are illustrative and may not apply to your situation. We are not responsible for, nor do we endorse or approve, the content of any third party sites linked from this page. Access to such sites is being provided for informational purposes only.